A Gate of Segovia c. 1903

Joseph Pennell made this drawing of A Gate of Segovia with graphite and crayon on paper. Looking at it, I imagine him outside, squinting at the walls in bright sunlight, trying to capture what he saw. The shapes are so roughly drawn, like nervous scribbles that are always on the verge of dissolving. There are dark, shadowy marks, which could be trees on the left side, and an architectural form or monument in the center. They lean and tilt, creating this precarious tension, a kind of organized chaos. The rough marks almost obscure the underlying structure, creating a sense of mystery, the light filtering through and around these solid forms. It reminds me of Piranesi, or even Goya’s drawings. There is something eerie and desolate in the scene. It's like they’re saying: these walls are old and stories are layered within them. Each artist sees something in what came before and tries to make it their own.